Kanzelhoehe Solar Observatory

The Kanzelhöhe Solar Observatory stands in the Karawanken mountains near Villach in southern Austria. It sits at a height that gives it clear views of the sky above the surrounding peaks. The observatory belongs to the University of Graz and specialises in watching the Sun. Its work began in 1941 when the German air force set it up to study how solar activity affects the Earth’s upper atmosphere. Today it carries out regular observations across different wavelengths, especially in the red light of hydrogen which shows the Sun’s chromosphere in detail. The observatory posts these images online so anyone can see the Sun’s changing face. Inside the building are several telescopes mounted together, each tuned to a different part of the solar spectrum. Visitors can walk through the quiet rooms where scientists track sunspots, flares and prominences. Outside, the mountain air is clear and the view stretches over forested slopes toward the Julian Alps.